Social activist accuses former BJP corporator of criminal intimidation

A social activist and journalist, who also runs a YouTube channel that addresses the civic issues in the Mumbai North region, has accused a former corporator of criminal intimidation. He has registered a formal complaint to Kurar Police, who have registered a non-cognizable complaint against the politician.

Rajesh Pande, a resident of Kurar village, discusses various issues pertaining to civic infrastructure and amenities on his channel. Recently, he was talking about the dilapidated public toilets in Malad area. He is seen surrounded by local residents, who lash out at BJP corporator Sangeeta Sharma, as well as her husband and former corporator Gyanmurti Sharma, for their inaction on the issue, despite intervention pleas made to them.

“I tried reaching out to the corporator. She said she was busy and did not call me back. Therefore, I ran the story without including her version. Soon afterwards, I got a call from her husband who threatened me of legal action,” said Pande. He added that Sharma, who is also a lawyer, said that he would make sure that the activist ends up behind the bars one way or the other.

Pande said he was only raising an issue that people were worried about. He says that the comments made by the residents were their own and not instigated by him. “Essentially, it is a case of a public official stopping me from doing my job,” said Pande, justifying the complaint made to the police.

When asked about the complaint made against him, Sharma acknowledged that he did say everything that Pande mentioned in the complaint, but in a non-threatening manner. “I didn’t threaten him or try to intimidate him in any way. I was just telling him that I could take legal action against him for doing such biased reporting. Besides, charges of criminal intimidation only hold true if I give him a life threat or something more severe than legal action,” said Sharma, while claiming that Pande’s allegations were politically motived.

Sharma added that there was one case of extortion against Pande and another one of a more serious offence, which he alluded to during the conversation. He even questioned the legitimacy of the YouTube channel, wondering whether it was even registered with the Information and Broadcasting Ministry.